The course aims to provide the student with an in-depth knowledge and a critical understanding of Early Modern Architectural History. In particular it will improuve his knowledge on: 1) periodization, 2) issues and problems from the Fifteenth to the mid-Eighteenth century, 3) notions of architectural literature, 4) recognition and critical understanding of selected buildings/projects and architect's careers. The analysis of significant architectures built between the Fifteenth and the first half of the Eighteenth century may be done through the study of different aspects such as: architect, client, form, structure, program, design, construction, physical and political context, historiography; together with the analysis of sites of special architectural, social or political interest (such as small “ideal” uthopistic towns, the capital cities of the Seventeenth century, etc.) and of structure-architectures (such as domes, a theme that runs throughout the period, from S. Maria del Fiore, to St. Peter's, to the Chapel of the Holy Shroud).

The principal learning outcomes are: - General knowledge of architectural history and theory for the Early modern period; ability to correctly identify and place architectural production in space and time, using an appropriate specific vocabulary. - Knowledge of the methods of historical analysis of architectural heritage. - Knowledge and understanding of the cultural, social, economic urban transformations for the concerned period. - Ability to identify historical sources and to use them correctly. - Ability to organize and correctly interpret data collected by historical analysis at different scales. - Good exposition of different critical interpretations on the same monument/space.

General knowledge of Italian and European Early Modern history is a prerequisite; furthermore at the beginnig of each section of the course a minimum of references will be given to introduce the topics of the lessons. The course also requires a general knowledge of Art history (at high school level) for the Ancient, Midle Ages and Early Modern periods. As the course is in the third year of the Bachelor Degree, the basic architectural vocabulary (parts of buildings, building elements, primary forms in the history of architecture, architectural orders) is also taken for granted.

The course, delivered in English and offered to international students coming from different countries and cultural areas, is an introduction to the history of Western Architecture from 1420 approx. to 1750: from the Italian Quattrocento, to a selection of themes and examples ranging from the XVI to the XVIII century, with an expanding geographical focus, in time, from Italy to Europe. The aim of the lessons is to provide the student with a solid cultural and historical background on the Architecture and Urban forms of the period, and also to expand his vocabulary and critical approach to Architecture in general. The course will be devided between the two teachears not cronologically, but depending on topics and will be discussed together also organizing seminars with the presence of both. This solution aims to show the complexity of critical interpretation of Architectural and Urban phenomena and simulates a debate on History of Architecture related to the period covered by the course. Specifically this will be the general delopment of the speaches and the value in hours of lessons: - XV Century Architecture in Italy and its relations with Antiquity (20 hours) • Antiquity and Modernity: the heritage of Ancients and the formation of the Classical Language • The orders in Classical Architecture: from Vituvus to Leon Battista Alberti • Ideal Cities and new settlements: Pienza, Urbino and the “military cities” - XVI Century Architecture in Italy (15 hours) • Great Architects in Milan and Rome: Bramante, Raffaello, the Sangallos, Michelangelo • The palaces and the villas and their language • Palladio and “Palladianism”: architecture, villas and landscape, a model - XVII and XVIII Century Architecture in Italy and in Europe (25 hours) • Baroque Architects in Rome: Bernini and Borromini • Turin as a paradigm for European Architecture and Urban Design • European Courts and places: villas, palaces and gardens • Guarini Guarini and the “invention” of Baroque Architecture in Piedmont • Filippo Juvarra and the internationality of Baroque Architecture and Art • Late Baroque Architecture in Piedmont with relations to European Late Baroque The organization of the speaches could be lightly modified depending on specific requests and interests expressed by the students during lessons.

The course, in English, is mainly based on classroom lectures. The students are invited – if possible – to visit monuments and cities nearby, but those visits are optional; on the contrary open air lessons in Turin within the ordinary course timetable are mandatory. One or more individual exercises, to turn in and discuss during the course, are part of the program (e.g., analysis of an Architectural Order, critical study of a monument, etc.) and will be taken in consideration in the evaluation criteria (see specific section). Taking notes is absolutely mandatory; students are encouraged to draw/sketch, both during visits in Turin or nearby and in classroom.

There is no single mandatory textbook. However, some "classical" texts, available in the Biblioteca Centrale di Architettura and in general in public libraries, are recommended; they can be read partly or as a whole, and used as guides into more selected readings. Additional bibliography, references to websites, and readings are given throughout the course and will be partly available for download from the course website. The listed books are just general suggestions: - J. Summerson, The Classical Language of Architecture, Cambridge, MIT, 1963 [1st. ed; later editions are available]; - P. Murray, The Architecture of the Italian Renaissance, London, Thames and Hudson, 1986 (revised third ed., first ed. 1963); - W. Lotz, Architecture in Italy 1500-1600, New Haven, London, Yale University Press, 1995; - R. Wittkower, Art and Architecture in Italy, 1600-1750, Penguin, Harmondsworth, 1973 revised ed.; - R. Pommer, Eighteenth-century Architecture in Piedmont : the open structures of Juvarra, Alfieri, Vittone, New York/London, Univ. Press, 1967.

Modalità di esame: Prova orale obbligatoria;

Modalità di esame: Prova orale obbligatoria;

The oral exam is based on an approximately 20 min. conversation and on three open questions, based on the course program. Images might be used and students will be asked to identify and discuss at least one relevant building during the exam.